Wheelbarrow.



No. 642.422. Patented Ian. 30, man.

E. r. BRAUCHER. WHEELBARROW.

(Applitntion filed Nov. 16. 1899.) (No Model.)

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EDIVARD F. BRAUOHER, OF MEYERSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

W'H EELBARROW.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,422, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed Novemherlti, 1899. b'erial No. 737,190. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. BRAUOHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meyersdale, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheelbarrows; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to wheelbarrows.

The object of the invention is to provide a wheelbarrow with hinged bottom sections whereby the contents of the barrow may be emptied without requiring the barrow to be tilted sidewise, as is customary in the old style of barrows and which soon wears or breaks the barrow, so as to render it unfit for use.

Tothis end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wheelbarrow. Fig. 2 is a rear end View of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan View with the hopper removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the catch, showing it engaged with the meeting edges of the bottom sections. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the same parts. I

In the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

1 denotes the side pieces of the wheelbar- 12 and 13, the upper ends of which are secured to the side pieces of the barrow-frame and the lower ends of which project downwardly and are braced by a bar 14, bolted between the lower ends of said pieces and to the rear cross-piece of the barrow-frame.

15 denotes two links, each of which has its upper end pivoted to the crank of the crankshafts and its lower end pivoted to a head 16, provided with a transverse rod or pintle 17.

18' denotes a foot-lever for closing the hinged bottom sections. This lever is pivoted between the lower ends of the bracket and has its forward end pivoted to the transverse pintle of the head 16.

19 denotes a spring-actuated rod mounted in eyes 20, secured to one of the side pieces and its handle to slide longitudinally in said side piece. This rod is connected to a handlelever 21, pivoted adjacent to the grip end of the wheelbarrow-handle, so that it may be operated without removing the hand from the barrow-handle.

22 denotes a lever pivoted to one of the side pieces of the barrow and extending across to the other side piece and pivoted to said rod. This lever is provided with a catch 22, which is adapted to engage the under side of the hinged bottom sections at their meeting edges and hold said sections closed. 23 denotes another lever for the same purpose. This lever is pivoted intermediate its length to the forward cross-bar of the barrow-frame and has one end connected to a catch 24:, which likewise engages the hinged bottom sections and serves the same purpose as the catch 22. The opposite end of this lever is connected to the forward end of the spring-actuated rod.

In use, the bottom sections being folded up, the barrow is filled with its load. When it is desired to empty the load, the handle-lever is grasped and pressed downward, thus drawing the catches from engagement with the bottom sections and permitting them to swing downward and discharge the contents of the hopper. To return the bottom sections to their normal position, the operator presses with his foot upon the foot-lever, which, through the instrumentality of the intermediate mechanism, will swing the bottom sections upward in a position to be engaged and retained in place by the catches.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction, operation, and advantages of my improved Wheelbarrow will be readily appreciated without requiring an extended explanation.

It will be seen that my barrow is simple of construction, that said construction permits of its manufacture at a small cost, and that it is exceedingly Well adapted-for the purpose for which it is designed, and it will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a Wheelbarrow, the combination with the supporting frame and its hopper; of hinged bottom sections for said hopper, a spring-actuated rod connected to the supporting-frame, catches for locking the bottom sections of said hopper, levers connecting said spring-actuated rod to said catches, and

means for elevating the bottom sections of said hopper from their lowered position to their closed position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a Wheelbarrow, the combination with the supporting frame and its hopper, of crank-shafts journaled in said supportingframe, bottom sections for said hopper secured to said crank-shafts, and a bracket secured to said frame, a lever pivoted to said bracket, and links connecting said lever with the crank of said crank-shafts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD F. BRAUOHER. IVitnesses:

' F. W. BERKELEY, WM. B. COOK. 

